How a preseason No. 2 powerhouse suffered a historic mid-season collapse
In short: Entering the 2025 season as a preseason favorite to win the Big Ten, the Penn State Nittany Lions faced an unprecedented downfall. A string of upsets and a season-ending injury to star quarterback Drew Allar transformed a dominant start into a historic losing streak.
The 2025 Penn State Nittany Lions season began with immense optimism. Following the July 21, 2025, Cleveland.com Preseason Big Ten Media Poll, the team was predicted to finish first in the conference. This confidence was reflected in the AP poll, which ranked them No. 2 in Week 0. After an initial 3–0 start, the season took a dramatic turn in week 5 with a double-overtime home loss to No. 6 Oregon.
The collapse intensified through a series of massive upsets. Penn State, a 25.5-point favorite, suffered a 42–37 defeat against a winless UCLA team. This triggered a historic trend, making the Nittany Lions the first NCAA Division I FBS program to lose back-to-back games as a 20-point favorite. The downward trend persisted following an October 11 defeat to Northwestern, as Drew Allar sustained a season-ending leg injury during the final quarter. This injury forced redshirt freshman Ethan Grunkemeyer into the starting role.
The instability led to significant coaching changes. On October 12, following the Northwestern loss, 12th-year head coach James Franklin was fired. Associate head coach Terry Smith assumed the role of interim head coach. The team's struggles continued through losses to Iowa, No. 1 Ohio State, and No. 2 Indiana, extending their losing streak to six games. Penn State eventually stabilized, winning their final three regular-season games to finish 6–6—their worst record since 2014, excluding the 2020 pandemic year. They concluded the season with a 7–6 record after defeating Clemson 22–10 in the Pinstripe Bowl.
Opens the Intellect+ feed with this card first. Swipe up for the next one.
Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: 2025 Penn State Nittany Lions football team
To cite this card, link to https://intellectplus.co.uk/app/history-2025-penn-state-nittany-lions-football-team.
How we source, check and correct cards: Editorial standards.
General information, not professional advice. Spotted an error? Flag the card or see corrections and complaints.
Intellect Plus is a visual educational discovery platform for exploring fascinating facts and ideas. Brain Food, Not Brain Rot. What is Intellect Plus?
Related
More in Born on this day · More in History · Latest · A–Z · All topics
